Update
2:39 PM: After rain washed away the opening two session, the decision was made to call off the opening day of the test without toss taking place. The stop-start nature meant that there is just not enough time for the ground to be ready today.
2:30 PM: Tea has been called and once again the second session has been washed away by rain. Will there be any ball bowled on Day 1?
1:54 PM: Some good news for fans as rain has stopped and covers are off in Bengaluru. Toss likely to happen soon. If it remains the same way then there is a chance that few overs might be bowled
1:16 PM: Weather continues to play cat and mouse.Rain stopped for sometime before coming down yet again. Will the second session get washed off or the Day 1 will be abandoned without a single ball being bowled. Saty tuned for more updates
11:30 AM: Early lunch taken in Bengaluru as rain continues to delay the start of 1st Test at Chinnaswamy Stadium
11:23 AM: Crowd erupts as Virat Kohli enters ground from indoor practice session. However the first session is likely to be washed off as drizzle continues
10:55 AM: Some good news for fans as rain has stopped in Bengaluru. Still not sure whether the groundmen expect the rain to resume.
9:34 AM: The BlackCaps twitter handle share video of how it looks at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. It doesn't look good
9:04 AM: Toss delayed due to rains
Preview
After whitewashing Bangladesh in the recent Test series, Rohit Sharma and Co will again start as favourites and look to continue their home domination in the red ball format. India host New Zealand in a three-match series with the series kicking off in Bangalore’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium. However, the rain threatens to play spoilsport over the city on the opening days of the match.
Team India's batting is firing from all cylinders with captain Rohit Sharma leading from the front. Yashasvi Jaiswal will look to continue his purple patch. Akash Deep was a revelation with his pace and will look to keep the momentum going.
On the other hand, New Zealand hasn’t had as smooth a run. After beating the South Africa team, the Kiwis face 0-2 whitewash while hosting Australia for the first time in several years. During their recent tour of Sri Lanka, New Zealand were outplayed in all departments.
With no Kane Williamson due to injury, New Zealand will be banking on spinner Ajaz Patel to deliver with the ball. He took 10 wickets in one innings on the last tour.
Rachin Ravindra will be marking a return to the subcontinent after his incredibly successful ODI World Cup performance in 2023. He will be ably supported by skipper Tom Latham and Daryl Mitchell, who are excellent players of spin and will provide the Kiwis an extra dimension.
The series will have will be important for India. They are now three wins away from sealing a spot in the World Test Championships final. A series whitewash would mean India can sit back in relative comfort, knowing that they are due a spot in the final at Lord’s next year.
